Before you look for a home, you must work out what you can afford. Making a budget can help you avoid money problems and choose the right place to live.

Before you move

Letting agents check how much money you earn before they rent to you. They expect your yearly income to be about 30 times your monthly rent.

For example, if you earn £25,000 a year, you may be able to afford £830 each month for rent.

Rent should be less than 40% of your monthly income.

Make a budget

Before you move, work out your monthly costs, including:

• energy and water bills
• food and shopping
• travel costs
• rent

This will help you see if you can afford the rent.

You can use the National Debtline budgeting tools to help plan, or email housingadvice@maidstone.gov.uk for support.

If you cannot afford your rent

Your housing cost should be a priority. If you are evicted due to rent arrears, you may find it harder to find somewhere else to live.

If your rent is too high, take action as soon as you can. You should:

• check your budget to see where you can save money
• tell your landlord as soon as possible
• ask if you can set up a payment plan

Act early so you do not fall behind on rent. You can also get free help from Citizens Advice.

Guarantors

A landlord may ask for a guarantor if you do not earn enough or you have a limited credit history. A guarantor is someone who agrees to pay your rent if you cannot.

Benefits

If you are on a low income, you may be able to apply for a housing benefit. Check what you may be entitled to using the Entitled To calculator.